Chapter 303: Chapter 303

Chapter 303:

Within five minutes, Eileen finalized her plans to leave abroad in three days.

As she hung up the phone, the distinct silence of the night enveloped her, the clock ticking past midnight. The scant light outside cast a somber ambiance through the window. A faint glow shimmered in her clear eyes, and a sudden wave of heartache washed over her. Perhaps sensing her sadness, the little life within her womb stirred, kicking gently.

Her slender, pale fingers covered her abdomen, and a hint of softness crept into her expression involuntarily. At least, the child was safe.

It had been a while since she last saw Phoebe, and she had only informed Phoebe about her impending departure on the eve of her leaving. She hoped this last-minute notice would prevent a meeting, considering Phoebe was unaware of her pregnancy.

However, Phoebe rushed over immediately after hanging up the phone, carrying a pile of items. She knocked on the door and complained as she entered, holding the ingredients.

“Eileen, you’re leaving tomorrow, and you’re just telling me now? That’s rather thoughtless of you. Did you even consider having one final meal together with me before your departure? Can we still be friends—”

Her words stopped abruptly as her eyes fell on Eileen’s rounded belly. With a loud thud, the items in her hands fell to the floor.

Phoebe’s eyes widened in disbelief, and after a moment, she rubbed them vigorously, as if trying to confirm what she was seeing. She then quickly attempted to calm herself and sank onto the sofa.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming here?” Eileen observed Phoebe’s dramatic reaction.

Phoebe sat up straight abruptly, looking at her. “Whose child is it?”

gⱯlnσν𝓮𝓁s․com is your escape to fiction “Who do you think?” Eileen countered.

Suddenly, Phoebe slapped her forehead hard. “The scoundrel, does he know?”

Bailee and Ruby stood anxiously in the dining room, fearing Phoebe might say something that would upset Eileen.

In the days leading up to her departure, Eileen had been absent-minded, often standing by the window, lost in thought. They didn’t know exactly what she was thinking, but they could hazard a guess. There was no doubt she was thinking of Bryan.

Leaving the country was the best option for Eileen, providing a peaceful environment for her childbirth. The encounter at the supermarket, where they had unexpectedly bumped into Bryan, had left Ruby feeling terrified.

Ruby had made the decision to accompany Eileen abroad, leaving the management of the educational institute to Bailee.

Ruby and Bailee would be apart for six months, yet neither of them showed any hesitation; both were entirely focused on Eileen’s health.

“Bailee, why don’t you go then?” Ruby suggested, nudging Bailee to sit next to Eileen.

Ruby believed that if Phoebe said anything inappropriate, Bailee could step in promptly. Bailee quickly set down what she was holding and took a seat next to Eileen, gently wrapping her arm around her.

Eileen smiled at Bailee, then replied to Phoebe, “He’s unaware.”

Phoebe’s frown deepened upon hearing Eileen’s response. “I’ll keep your secret. When I arrived here, Jacob tasked me with convincing you. He said this isn’t what Bryan wanted, regardless of any misunderstandings. Bryan isn’t doing well currently. He’s caught between Brandon and Zola, but he’s never been afraid. This time, because of you, he’s…”

Phoebe couldn’t find the right words to express Bryan’s current condition. She continued, “But I won’t press the matter further. For the child’s sake, it’s best for you to distance yourself. But are you certain about not informing Bryan about something this significant?”

After all, Bryan was the father and deserved to be informed.

Before Eileen could reply, Bailee interjected, “And what if we did tell him? Let’s not even consider his reaction; his grandmother would undoubtedly exploit the child to assist Bryan in taking over Apex Group, treating Eileen and the baby as mere pawns. The more people who know about this, the more danger Eileen faces!”

“You have a valid point,” Phoebe admitted, scratching her head in search of a response but coming up empty-handed. Something still felt wrong.

Choosing not to dwell on it further, Phoebe changed the topic. “Boy or girl? Did the doctor reveal it during the checkup?”

“The doctor didn’t say. Whether it’s a boy or a girl, it’s fine,” Eileen replied, feeling a mix of emotions and choosing to remain silent about it.

Throughout the meal, Phoebe expressed frustration about being kept in the dark, while Milford also voiced his discontent.

He had expected to be involved in watching over the baby from birth, but now that Eileen was going abroad and wouldn’t return until after the baby was born, he questioned what role he would have, “Why don’t I take a year off from school and accompany you abroad?” After a while, Milford set down his fork. “It’s inconvenient for you and your mother to go abroad alone. Some matters are better handled by men, such as carrying luggage or changing light bulbs—”

“Are you even considered a man?” Phoebe interjected. “You’re just a boy.”

Milford’s immediate reaction was one of displeasure. “How can you say I’m not a man? Even though I’m young, I’m strong. I can carry Eileen, and I’m capable of many tasks.”

Their argument erupted right there at the dining table.

Feeling resigned, Eileen said, “Take time off from school. You’ve only just gotten back on track with your studies. How can you just take another break?”

Milford dared not retort and resumed eating silently.

Once Phoebe left, Ruby broached the subject of Huey with Bailee once again. “It’s been about three months since you mentioned living together. Have you spoken to him yet, or has he refused to talk to his mother?” Ruby was concerned that during her six-month absence, Bailee might do something she shouldn’t.

“Huey left town for intense training. He didn’t even make it back for Christmas and might be away for a while. He did mention that when he returns, he’ll organize a meeting with his mother. But with you heading abroad, we’ll have to postpone it,” Bailee replied.

As Bailee counted the days, she realized it had been over four months since she last saw Huey. Due to his demanding training schedule, Huey was incredibly busy, and their communication had become sparse. Surprisingly, she felt a sense of relief.

“When he returns, perhaps we can arrange for Mom to come back for a while. Your issues are top priority,” Eileen suggested. “Your marriage is a significant concern for Mom.”

“No, that’s not acceptable,” Ruby quickly interjected. “Such a significant matter shouldn’t be rushed. Should I abruptly return from abroad just to secure you a title? If Huey truly cares, he should wait for my return. After all, I’ve waited a long time for him to discuss this with his mother.”

Bailee swiftly wrapped her arm around Ruby’s.

“Let’s not dwell on this. Yesterday, during your check-up at the hospital, the doctor mentioned that you’ve been recovering well. So, your main focus during our trip abroad is to take good care of Eileen. If I manage to finish my work ahead of schedule, I’ll join you before her due date…”

Despite their 8 a.m. flight the next day, the trio found themselves wide awake. They engaged in lively conversation late into the night before retiring to their respective rooms.

After leaving Eileen’s place, Phoebe couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease. Eventually, she ended up informing Jacob that Eileen was departing for abroad the following day.

Jacob wasted no time relaying this information to Bryan, immediately calling him. At the Dawson Mansion, Zola arrived in the afternoon, bearing a plethora of snacks favored by Stellar.

The two spent the entire afternoon together. She subtly hinted that she wished to have a heart-to-heart conversation with Bryan.

Stella maintained her silence until dinner, at which point Zola candidly expressed her intentions, saying, “You’re aware of my pivotal role in Brandon’s pursuit of Group. Don’t you want to persuade me to support him?”

“Of course I do, but the decision isn’t only mine to make. Bryan is upset with me and hasn’t visited in quite some time,” Stella admitted, her tone tinged with melancholy.

Zola immediately replied, “I’m not asking for you to orchestrate my presence by Bryan’s side as you did with Eileen. I simply hope you can facilitate a meeting between us.”

Following a lengthy pause, Stella relented and replied, “I’ll give him a call, but I can’t promise he’ll come.”

“Alright!” Zola’s face brightened. Although she saw Bryan almost every day at the company for meetings or important documents, he scarcely acknowledged her presence and was consistently terse in his conversations with her. Whenever she tried to initiate a conversation, he promptly dismissed her from his office. Stella’s influence remained significant, particularly since Bryan had not visited the Dawson Mansion for a long time.

So when Stella called him, he came immediately.

With dinner already prepared, Stella, who hadn’t laid eyes on Bryan in quite some time, couldn’t contain her excitement. She swiftly instructed Jarred to prepare Bryan’s favorite fruits.

Bryan cast a brief glance at Zola, who was already seated, then wordlessly took his own seat. He lazily leaned back in his chair and lit a cigarette. His demeanor remained aloof and chilly, acknowledging Stella’s remarks only sporadically while seemingly disregarding Zola’s presence entirely.

“Bryan, how do you rate your chances in your bet with Zola?” she took the opportunity to ask.

“What?” Bryan sneered. “Did he send you to spy on me? Since you took over Apex Group, how many projects have slipped to Julio’s company? Do you have the audacity to inquire about my projects?”

The more projects Zola lost, the more favorable Bryan’s prospects became. His words, dripping with sarcasm, pierced Zola’s heart like daggers.

Despite reminding herself countless times that his hostility stemmed from Eileen breaking his heart, Zola couldn’t help but feel deeply hurt.

She said, “Bryan, Brandon isn’t as straightforward as you believe. He’s got a contingency plan. If you grasp that, you’ll realize I’m in your corner, prepared to support you in any way possible.”

A mocking laugh reverberated in the hushed dining room. Bryan’s eyes, seemingly smiling, brimmed with contempt. “So, what exactly do you want from me?” he asked.

Zola tried to speak, but even though Bryan sounded casual, his sarcasm made it hard for her to find her words.

But who didn’t have something they wanted? She loved him. Was that so wrong?

“If I help you, Brandon won’t let me off easily. Therefore, you must protect me,” Zola eventually said.

Bryan flicked off the ash of his cigarette. “Haven’t you been adept at protecting yourself? Playing both sides, telling one thing to one person and another to someone else?”

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